SUZANNE BELLING
They visited the home and ohel of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, OBM, and the Lubavitch headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway, Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
“It gave us spiritual nourishment for the whole year,” said Yehuda Goldberg, while Yakov Drutman added: “We felt the presence of the Rebbe.”
Ariel Yachad related that “every moment was jam-packed – from the spiritual to the physical”.
The learners visited the Empire State Building and Trump Towers, catching a glimpse of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump “who blew us a kiss and asked: ‘Are you guys from South Africa? Good luck with your politics’,” said Yoni Glassman.
The boys explored the Jewish areas of New York, visited the Statue of Liberty and braved a two-hour walk to the East Side of Manhattan “to spread the joy of Yomtov to other communities”.
They celebrated the chagim which fell in the period of their visit, including dancing non-stop during Chol HaMoed Succot.
They shook the lulav and etrog with Jews they met and davened with a minyan at the 9/11 site as a tribute to those who lost their lives in the terrorist attack on Twin Towers.
